Talesvara Temple, Bhubaneswar – The Temple

Talesvara Temple, Bhubaneswar – The Temple

This is a small east facing Temple. The temple is enclosed within a compound made of dressed laterite blocks. It is a living temple. Presiding Deity is called as Talesvara. He is housed in the sanctum in the form of Shiva Lingam within a circular yonipitha. The sanctum follows Rekha Deula style but the now the superstructure over the sanctum in completely lost. The vimana is triratha on plan. There is no Jagamohana.

The niche idols around the shrine are of recent origin. Dvarapalas along with Ganga and Yamuna can be found at the base of doorjamb. The dvarapala is flanked by two male figures. Gajalakshmi Panel can be found at lalatabimba. Ashta Grahas can be found in the lintel. Ketu is missing. There is an ancient well made of laterite block in the southeastern corner of the temple.

There is a unique idol in this Temple. The idol is a four-armed Aja Ekapada Bhairava in a subsidiary niche on the northern wall of the shrine. The deity is holding an arrow in lower left arm, a trident in upper left arm, his lower right arm is in varada mudra and the upper right arm holds a rosary. The deity is crowned by jatamukuta.